The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-31
DETECTIVE DAVIS, JR.
6yaovERs OF THE QUEER SPOTTED
BY THE CHIEFS YOUNG SON.
Two Systematic Counterfeiters Capt
ured Last Night, One of Them at the
Point OF the Pistol by Groceryman
Welsh-Small Groceries victimized.

For the past week or more there has
been asystematic gang of counterfciters
engaged in flooding this cily with spurious
silver dollars. The imitation is as clever a
one rs ever gotten out, and would never
be for moment challenged 10y the UNI
practiced money-handler either in or out
OF the small stores or shops. The conse-
quencc rs, large amount OF these bogus
dollars have been taken in exchange for
small purchases. The police have been
sdiligent in their endeavors to apprehend
the counterfeiters and several arrests have
been made of parties caught in the act OF
passing the worthless coin, and the parties
turnedover tothe United States authorities.
whether the arrested individuals belonged
TO the gang or had been victinhi2ed and
were innoccntly passing the money re-
mains to he developed at the examination
and hearing OF the two men arrested
last night. The two men arrested are
Peter Bruning and Joe Dcndero. Their
detection and apprehension must be cred
tied to little Jimmy Davis, the bright ten
year old son Of Chief Davis.
Last night about o'clock or a little
AFTER young Davis was standing in the
grocery OF II. T. Breeder, at the corner Of
Vance and fernando streets, when man
entered and asked for 5-ccnt cigar. Mr.
Breeder waited on him, and the customer
threw II ON the counter, received % cents
In change and walked out. To show what
an intuitiye detective little Davis is-he
had heard the ring Of the dollar on the
counter lie did not like it, Ii was not
genuine, and he knew il. Besides, the
man who had just purchased the cigar
was stranger in that neighborhood.
Davis had never seen him before, and he
did not like his looks As the customer
passed out the door Davisasked Breeder
TO let him see the dollar As he took il in
his hand he exclaimed: at is too light.
II is counterfeit" lie then told Breeder
70 watch the way the fellow went, while
he ran home, which was near by, 10 in.
form his father. Running into the house
almost out OF breath, he told his father OF
the Transaction, who lost no time
in getting OH the tracks Of the
fellow. The son told his father that the
dollar was just like one he had seen up at
the staiion.housc few DAYS before, and
that lac could identify the man who was in
the store. Following the direction the
man had rome, the chief stopped in at sew
eral stores 10 inquire whether such look
ing man rs the one he was after had been
In them. lie found that he had; in fact
two Of them, and that they had bought
cigars. The dollar which had been given
IN payment was produced, and the chief
~ that il was counterfeit. He found
10 be the case at five or six places
snot several acquaintances while ON the
ch, and instructed them 10 post the
ckcepes along which they passed on
Soto and fernando streets as TO the
for he WIS certain he was close on TO
heels.
One Of these men--MI. Henry Moore
on his way stepped into the store Of Mike
Welsh, at the corner OF DeSJto and South
streets and told him what the chiot had
said, when Mike exclaimed, "Tll bet that
fellow who stepped out rs you came in is
one Of them, los he bought 5 cent cigar
and gave dollar in exchange" Reach.
ing in the cash-drawer he drew out the
dollar lac had Just received, and an exam.
iRaiion found Il to be worthless. Moor
had hardly gotten out Of the store when
another man entered, asked for cent
ciglr and handed dollar in exchange.
Welsh looked at II closely, saw that II was
counterfeit, and then, as II going to open
his cash-drawer, he reached for his pistol.
Presenting IL 10 the fellows face he dared
him 10 move, saying, "Your partner lust
beat mo out OF 80 cents" The man did not
budge. but only insisted that the money
was good, and he should be permitted 10
go. But Welsh held the pistol on him,
and would have brought him 10 the sta.
ton house had not the chief, who was hut
short distance off and coming that way.
opened the door and walked in. Welsh
explained to him in few words, and
The chief leaving instructions 10 hold the
prisoner he and bis son hurried out 10
overtakg the other scoundrcl.
They Ind not gone half a square before
they met man walking leisurcly up the
street. The son whispered. That's him,
papa, and the chief laid his hand on the
mans shoulder as he attempted 10 pass
and informed him that he was under ar.
rest. Tho prisoner attempted to Jerk |
away. at the same time thrusiing his hand |
into his hip pocket. As he did NJ the |
chief struck him heavy blow with his
billy which was quickly followed by |
another like, sending the prisoner bleed. |
ing TO the sidewalk. The chief grabbed |
hold of him, but failed 20 find a pistol. |
In answer TO the inquiry, tho prisoner |
gave his name rs Peter Bnning. and |
stated that he camo here from Illinois
about two weeks ago. Escorting him back
To WELSH store the chief took the other
man IN charge, who gave his name M Joe
Dnndero, from Chicago. lie, too, had
been here about two weeks, aud was stop.
ping With Bruning at the saloon Of
Emanuel CastagninO, No. II Bcalc street.
Brnning was bleeding 10 freely from the
well deserved blows the chief hal given
him that 4 physician had 10 be- sent Tor 10
stop the flow Of blood. The mon were
safely Gagged for the night Ia n cell Mt the
staiion.hOn
Scrpi. liomn, who was also engaged ON
The trail Of the men, was but n short dis.
lance behind the chief when .he capture
was made. The sergeant took the time 10
80 into number Of stores and make in
tguiry about the prisoners and found that
uiey hal bccn there and worked their
Scheme successfully. About si2 Of the
money was recovered by him.
when the mon were searched at the sta.
'ion-houso, Iruning had sl3 counterfeit
and s25i good money'in his pockets. lie
declined 10 say from what exact locality
IN Illinois he came. but said that when
Ne was IN that state several weeks ago he
saye man (refusing TO state his namel
70 for several hundred Of the spurious
Iiollas Dondero protests his innocence.
! he men are evidently among the shpwd.
fst OF the showers Of the queer. They arc
vel dnescd, rather good looking fellows,
'gcd respectively twenty-five and thirty
gear. Their scheme was 10 yictimi1e
.he keepers Of small out-oi.the-way stores,
BY gOing In as they did, making
'-ccnt purchase, and receiving % cents in